Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Friday, December 11.
Friday morning's Formula 1 news roundup
Schumacher 'treated' to return to 'normal life' - Todt
© Reuters
F1 legend Michael Schumacher is being "treated" so that he can "return to a more normal life".
That is the latest word from FIA president Jean Todt, who is now one of very few people who is able to personally visit his long-time friend at home.
Almost nothing is known about 51-year-old Schumacher in the wake of his 2013 skiing fall.
"I am very discreet on this subject," Todt, who is the great German's former Ferrari boss, told Ouest France.
"We all know that Michael had a very serious accident and unfortunately it had significant consequences for him.
"Since then, he has been treated so that he can be able to return to a more normal life," the Frenchman added.
Todt was also asked about Schumacher's 21-year-old son Mick, who will enter Formula 1 with the small American team Haas next year.
"He has been champion in Formula 3 in 2018 and in Formula 2 this year," Todt said. "The next step is Formula 1, and it will probably be the most difficult for him.
"But he has shown that he has the qualities to make the most of a car. So if he has the car Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen had, he will have results comparable to them. If he has the type of car Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have, his results will obviously be different.
"What we can hope for, for him and for Formula 1, is that there will be more cars that come close in performance to the Mercedes in the future," Todt added.
Teammates say Grosjean 'incredible' on fast lap
© Reuters
Two former teammates have farewelled Romain Grosjean from Formula 1 by saying the Frenchman was impressively fast over a single lap.
Grosjean, who has revealed a photo on social media of the extent of the burns to his right hand, is unable to contest his final grand prix in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
But his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen has hailed Grosjean's talent - especially over a single lap.
"Romain has incredible speed on a fast lap," said the Dane.
"I don't want to say that he was slow in the race, because he is very fast. But in qualifying he was incredible.
"Formula 1 is a strange place, because Romain made some mistakes that got more attention than his speed and skill. But personally I think very few of the drivers here are as quick on a fast lap," Magnussen added.
Meanwhile, F1's most experienced driver, Kimi Raikkonen, shared the Lotus team with Grosjean some years ago.
"I think it's impossible to see exactly where everyone is, but he was really fast on one lap when we were teammates," the 2007 world champion said in Abu Dhabi.
"In the race he was good but at that time he could go a little here and a little there too often. But he did have the speed," Raikkonen added.
More news from Formula 1:
Lewis Hamilton given green light to race in Abu Dhabi
Stand-in George Russell will return to Williams. Read more.
George Russell preparing to again stand in for Lewis Hamilton
George Russell was cruelly robbed of victory on his Mercedes debut last Sunday. Read more.
Kvyat unsure why Tsunoda announcement taking so long
Several drivers are waiting for Red Bull to finally announce its Formula 1 driver lineups for 2021. Read more.
No early Haas debut for Schumacher due to 'pressure'
Promoting Mick Schumacher to the race cockpit this weekend in Abu Dhabi would have put "too much pressure" on the new Formula 2 champion. Read more.
'No logic' behind Ferrari test ban - Sainz
There is "no logic" to the FIA's decision to allow some experienced drivers to test after the Abu Dhabi finale but not others. Read more.
Montreal wants spectators at 2021 GP
Race promoter Francois Dumontier says the plan is for spectators to attend next June's Canadian GP. Read more.
Russell, Bottas say 2021 contracts unchanged
George Russell and Valtteri Bottas have bucked the speculation by suggesting their respective contracts for 2021 will proceed as planned. Read more.
Wolff not stepping down as Mercedes team boss
Toto Wolff has ended any lingering uncertainty about his role in Formula 1 by confirming that he is staying put for 2021. Read more.
Ocon 'not afraid' of 2021 teammate Alonso
Esteban Ocon insists he is "not afraid" of Fernando Alonso. Read more.
